precipitating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "precipitating" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts where something is causing or bringing about an event or situation, often suddenly or unexpectedly. Example: "The heavy rainfall was precipitating a series of landslides in the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Greece's crisis talks with international creditors have made slow progress and fears remain high that it could default on its debts, precipitating Athens' departure from the eurozone.

The Guardian - Business

Fears are growing that Greece will therefore default, precipitating the country's exit from the eurozone.

The Guardian - Business

He went so far as to predict that there would be a backbench rebellion or perhaps even a revolt by the Green party precipitating a collapse in the coalition government.

The Guardian

A further €7.2bn (£5.3bn) in bailout money is still to be paid out and fears are growing that without it Greece will default on its debts, potentially precipitating the country's exit from the euro.

The Guardian - Business

But, given the risk of precipitating panic elsewhere, this newspaper does not advocate writing them down now.Last June Europe's politicians agreed that rescue funds could be used to recapitalise banks.

The Economist

Its head, Hilde Johnson, a Norwegian former government minister, is said to have let herself get too close to Mr Kiir, who in turn has been accused by Western diplomats of precipitating the crisis by falsely charging Mr Machar with instigating a coup.Hopes that regional leaders might mediate a ceasefire seem so far to be forlorn.

The Economist

A naive belief that house prices could never fall at the national level encouraged excessive speculation and lax lending, thereby precipitating an eventual collapse.It is tempting to assume that because equities have performed so badly over the past decade, they must be a sure thing to perform well over the next ten years.

The Economist

Even the flight restrictions across Europe caused by ash from an Icelandic volcano seem to have hit BA the hardest, precipitating a 24.5% drop in passengers in April, compared with the same month a year earlier, whereas easyJet's fell by just 7.6%.

The Economist

They are "naturally occurring Ponzi processes" that create a self-sustaining circle of rising investor confidence, starting from the precipitating events, which are of little or ambiguous significance in themselves for corporate earnings and hence for fundamental valuations.In this section Dire straits?

The Economist

Leaders of the G-20 vowed to get control over the huge and opaque world of derivatives blamed by many for precipitating the financial crisis that had engulfed them.

The Economist

Before he began to experiment with flaking and precipitating soyabeans, whipped cream was a hit-or-miss affair.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "precipitating" when you want to emphasize a direct and often sudden cause-and-effect relationship. It is particularly effective when describing events that lead to significant consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "precipitating" in situations where a simpler word like "causing" or "leading to" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or convoluted.

Linguistic Context

Precipitating" primarily functions as a verb, specifically the present participle, often used to describe an action that directly causes another event to occur. The Ludwig examples show it describing events that lead to crises, collapses, or significant changes in a situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "precipitating" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed verb form used to indicate a direct cause-and-effect relationship, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It commonly appears in news and business contexts, carrying a neutral to formal tone. While versatile, it's advisable to use simpler alternatives in informal settings. Remember, overusing "precipitating" can make your writing sound overly complex. Consider using synonyms like ""triggering"" or "causing" for clarity and conciseness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

triggering

Highlights the action of initiating or setting off an event, often with a sense of immediacy.

causing

Emphasizes the direct causation of an event or situation.

prompting

Suggests that something incites or encourages a specific reaction or consequence.

instigating

Implies a more deliberate action of initiating or provoking an event.

sparking

Focuses on the initial moment or event that ignites a larger action or process.

giving rise to

Indicates that something creates the conditions for another event to occur.

leading to

Highlights the sequential connection between cause and effect.

bringing about

Emphasizes the successful causation of an event or situation.

setting off

Suggests the initiation of a chain reaction or series of events.

inducing

Focuses on persuading or influencing something to happen.

FAQs

How to use "precipitating" in a sentence?

Use "precipitating" to indicate that something is causing an event or situation, often suddenly or unexpectedly. For example, "The economic downturn was "triggering" a rise in unemployment."

What can I say instead of "precipitating"?

You can use alternatives like ""triggering"", "causing", or "prompting" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "precipitating" formal or informal?

"Precipitating" tends to be more formal. In informal contexts, consider using simpler alternatives like "causing" or "starting".

What's the difference between "precipitating" and "triggering"?

While both words indicate causation, "precipitating" often implies a more sudden or dramatic effect, while ""triggering"" suggests setting off a chain of events.